An aluminum-based cathode (positive electrode) for storage cells formed by deposition of a layer of aluminum metal on a porous conductive substrate. Storage cells and batteries having the cathode. The porous conducting substrate can be metal, conductive carbon or a refractory material, such as a metal boride or metal carbide. The aluminum-deposited porous substrate is in electrical contact with a cathode current collector and a suitable liquid catholyte. The cathode is, for example, combined with a molten alkali metal anode to form a storage cell. The alkali metal and the catholyte are molten or liquid at operating temperatures of the cell. Methods of storing energy and generating energy using cell having the aluminum-based cathode are provided.

Apparatus and methods to reduce granule disruption during manufacture of electrochemical cells, such as a metal halide electrochemical cell, are provided. In one embodiment, a current collector can include a diffuser strip extending beneath an aperture configured to receive an injection stream of molten electrolyte. The diffuser strip can be configured to dissipate an injection stream of molten electrolyte when the molten electrolyte is injected into an electrochemical cell. In this way, disruption of a granule bed by the injection of the molten electrolyte during manufacture of the electrochemical cell can be reduced.

Electrochemical cells operating with molten electrodes and electrolyte, where the cathode is an alloy of a metal and metalloid, may be assembled in a discharged state by combining first an anodic metal with a cathodic metal to form a binary alloy. This binary alloy is then placed in a cell housing with the metalloid and the electrolyte, all in the solid state. The temperature is raised to, and maintained at, a temperature above the melting point of the highest melting component until components assembled into horizontal layers of electrolyte above a layer of a ternary alloy formed by the combination of the binary alloy and the metalloid. A charge and discharged cycle is then run through the electrochemical cell.

Electrochemical cells operating with molten electrodes and electrolyte, where the cathode is an alloy of a metal and metalloid, may be assembled in a discharged state by combining first an anodic metal with a cathodic metal to form a binary alloy. This binary alloy is then placed in a cell housing with the metalloid and the electrolyte, all in the solid state. The temperature is raised to, and maintained at, a temperature above the melting point of the highest melting component until components assembled into horizontal layers of electrolyte above a layer of a ternary alloy formed by the combination of the binary alloy and the metalloid. A charge and discharged cycle is then run through the electrochemical cell.

A combined heat and power plant for the decentralized supply of power and of heat may include at least one prime mover for providing electrical energy while providing waste gas, at least one thermal store for storing thermal energy provided by the waste gas, and at least one high-temperature battery in which the electrical energy provided by the prime mover can be stored. The high-temperature battery can be supplied by the waste gas provided by the prime mover to keep the high-temperature battery warm.

A positive electrode composition is presented. The composition includes granules that comprise an electroactive metal, an alkali metal halide, and a metal sulfide composition that is substantially-free of oxygen. A molar ratio of the electroactive metal to an amount of sulfur in the metal sulfide composition is between about 1.5:1 and about 50:1. The positive electrode composition is substantially free of iron oxide, iron sulfate, cobalt oxide and cobalt sulfate. An energy storage device and a related energy storage system are also described.

A sodium-sulfur battery according to the present invention is provided with a reservoir space 100 that retains and solidifies a high-temperature molten material having flowed out of a cell 4, in order to prevent the high-temperature molten material from leaking out of a casing 1, even when an accident occurs to generate the high-temperature molten material inside the casing. The reservoir space 100 can be formed along a perimeter of the casing 1, or alternatively, can be formed inside the casing 1. The reservoir space 100 includes, for example, a composite member 15 of a rigid member 11, a heat-insulating material 12, and a heat-resisting material 13.

The present application provides configurations, components, assemblies and methods for sealing cells of sodium-based thermal batteries, such as NaMx cells. In some embodiments the cells may include an integrated bridge member hermetically sealed to an electrically conductive case and a ceramic collar of the cell to hermetically seal an anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the cells may include the ceramic collar hermetically sealed to an electrolyte separator tube of the cell to hermetically seal the anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the anodic chamber may be defined, at least in part, by the case, integrated bridge member, ceramic collar and electrolyte separator tube. In some embodiments the cells may include a current collector hermetically sealed to the ceramic collar, and a cap member hermetically sealed to the current collector tube to hermetically seal a cathodic chamber of the cell.

The present application provides configurations, components, assemblies and methods for sealing cells of sodium-based thermal batteries, such as NaMx cells. In some embodiments the cells may include an integrated bridge member hermetically sealed to an electrically conductive case and a ceramic collar of the cell to hermetically seal an anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the cells may include the ceramic collar hermetically sealed to an electrolyte separator tube of the cell to hermetically seal the anodic chamber of the cell. In some embodiments the anodic chamber may be defined, at least in part, by the case, integrated bridge member, ceramic collar and electrolyte separator tube. In some embodiments the cells may include a current collector hermetically sealed to the ceramic collar, and a cap member hermetically sealed to the current collector tube to hermetically seal a cathodic chamber of the cell.

Provided herein are energy storage devices. In some cases, the energy storage devices are capable of being transported on a vehicle and storing a large amount of energy. An energy storage device is provided comprising at least one liquid metal electrode, an energy storage capacity of at least about 1 MWh and a response time less than or equal to about 100 milliseconds (ms).